On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. On the fourteenth nightThis phrase marks a significant duration of time, emphasizing the prolonged and intense nature of the storm that Paul and his companions endured. The number fourteen in biblical numerology often symbolizes deliverance or salvation, which is fitting as this night precedes their eventual shipwreck and survival. The endurance of the crew and passengers during this period reflects the perseverance required in the Christian faith, trusting in God's providence even amidst prolonged trials. we were still being driven
The passive construction here highlights the lack of control the sailors had over their situation, symbolizing the human condition of being subject to forces beyond our control. In the Greek, the word "driven" (φέρομαι, pheromai) conveys being carried or borne along, suggesting a sense of helplessness but also a reliance on divine guidance. This can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are often carried by the Spirit through life's storms. across the Adriatic Sea
Historically, the term "Adriatic Sea" in ancient times referred to a broader area than the modern Adriatic, encompassing parts of the central Mediterranean. This geographical reference situates the narrative in a real and tangible world, reminding readers of the historical reliability of the Scriptures. The sea, often a symbol of chaos and danger in biblical literature, serves as a backdrop for God's sovereignty and protection over His people. About midnight
Midnight, a time often associated with darkness and uncertainty, sets the stage for a turning point in the narrative. In biblical symbolism, midnight can represent a time of divine intervention or the breaking of a new day. This moment foreshadows the imminent deliverance and the dawning of hope, encouraging believers that God often works in the darkest hours. the sailors sensed
The sailors' intuition or perception (Greek: ὑπονοέω, hyponoeō) indicates a natural awareness or discernment of their circumstances. This human element of the account underscores the importance of wisdom and attentiveness in navigating life's challenges. It also suggests that God can use natural means and human senses to guide and protect His people. they were approaching land
The anticipation of land signifies hope and salvation after a period of turmoil. In the biblical narrative, land often represents stability, safety, and the fulfillment of God's promises. This phrase reassures believers that after enduring trials, there is a promise of rest and security, echoing the ultimate hope of reaching the eternal "Promised Land" in God's kingdom. Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulThe apostle who is being transported as a prisoner to Rome. His faith and leadership play a crucial role during the storm. 2. SailorsThe crew responsible for navigating the ship. They sense land is near, indicating their experience and intuition. 3. Adriatic SeaThe body of water where the ship is being driven. It is part of the Mediterranean Sea, known for its treacherous conditions. 4. Fourteenth NightIndicates the duration of the storm, emphasizing the severity and endurance required by those on board. 5. MidnightA time often associated with significant events in the Bible, symbolizing a turning point or moment of divine intervention. Teaching Points Trust in God's SovereigntyDespite the chaos and uncertainty, God's plan is unfolding. Trusting in His sovereignty brings peace amidst life's storms. Leadership in CrisisPaul exemplifies godly leadership by maintaining faith and encouraging others. In times of crisis, believers are called to lead with faith and wisdom. Perseverance Through TrialsThe prolonged storm tests the endurance of all on board. Similarly, believers are encouraged to persevere through trials, knowing that God is with them. Divine TimingThe mention of "midnight" suggests a pivotal moment. God's timing is perfect, and His interventions often come when least expected. Spiritual AwarenessThe sailors' ability to sense land reflects spiritual discernment. Believers should cultivate awareness of God's presence and guidance in their lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Paul's experience in the storm reflect the importance of faith during difficult times? Can you think of a personal situation where faith helped you persevere? 2. In what ways does the account of Jonah parallel the events in Acts 27:27? How do both accounts demonstrate God's control over nature? 3. How can we apply Paul's example of leadership in crisis to our own lives, especially when facing challenges at work or in our communities? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "midnight" moment in your life. How did you see God's hand at work during that time? 5. How can we develop spiritual discernment to sense God's guidance, similar to how the sailors sensed land? What practices or disciplines can help us grow in this area? Connections to Other Scriptures Jonah 1The account of Jonah also involves a storm at sea, highlighting themes of divine intervention and human response to God's call. Psalm 107:23-30This passage describes sailors witnessing God's power over the sea, paralleling the experience of those on Paul's ship. Matthew 14:22-33Jesus calming the storm demonstrates His authority over nature, similar to how God's providence is evident in Paul's journey. People Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, PaulPlaces Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, ThessalonicaTopics Across, Adria, A'dria, Adriatic, Approaching, Borne, Close, Deemed, Drawing, Drew, Drifting, Driven, Forth, Fourteenth, Fro, Getting, Idea, Middle, Midnight, Neared, Nearing, Nigh, Sailors, Sensed, Shipmen, Supposed, Supposing, Surmise, Surmised, Suspected, TowardsDictionary of Bible Themes Acts 27:27 4266 sea
5418 monotony Acts 27:1-44 5517 seafaring Acts 27:14-44 5590 travel Acts 27:27-44 5569 suffering, hardship Library A Short Confession of Faith
'...There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.'--ACTS xxvii. 23. I turn especially to those last words, 'Whose I am and whom I serve.' A great calamity, borne by a crowd of men in common, has a wonderful power of dethroning officials and bringing the strong man to the front. So it is extremely natural, though it has been thought to be very unhistorical, that in this story of Paul's shipwreck he should become guide, counsellor, inspirer, and a tower of strength; and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The ActsA Total Wreck, all Hands Saved
'And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Tempest and Trust
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Seasons of Covenanting.
The duty is never unsuitable. Men have frequently, improperly esteemed the exercise as one that should be had recourse to, only on some great emergency. But as it is sinful to defer religious exercises till affliction, presenting the prospect of death, constrain to attempt them, so it is wrong to imagine, that the pressure of calamity principally should constrain to make solemn vows. The exercise of personal Covenanting should be practised habitually. The patriot is a patriot still; and the covenanter …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation
1801-1832 The Bible Carey's missionary weapon--Other vernacular translators--Carey's modest but just description of his labours--His philological key--Type-cutting and type-casting by a Hindoo blacksmith--The first manufacture of paper and steam-engines in the East--Carey takes stock of the translation work at the opening of 1808--In his workshop--A seminary of Bible translators--William Yates, shoemaker, the Coverdale of the Bengali Bible--Wenger--A Bengali Luther wanted--Carey's Bengali Bible--How …
George Smith—The Life of William Carey Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Spiritual Culture.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11. There is eternal life in Jesus, but for man to come into possession of this life he must comply with the requirements made by the Bible. After getting into possession of this life there are certain duties which man must faithfully perform to retain and develop it. After entering the wide fields of grace development is necessary. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria.
1. The Location of Sychar. Although modern writers are now mostly agreed on this subject, it may be well briefly to put before our readers the facts of the case. Till comparitively lately, the Sychar of St. John iv. was generally as representing the ancient Shechem. The first difficulty here was the name, since Shechem, or even Sichem, could scarcely be identified with Sychar, which is undoubtedly the correct reading. Accordingly, the latter term was represented as one of oppobrium, and derived from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Conversion.
THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVERSION. CONVERSION to God is not so easy and so smooth a thing, as some would have men believe it is. Why is man's heart compared to fallow ground, God's word to a plough, and his ministers to ploughmen, if the heart indeed has no need of breaking in order to the receiving of the seed of God unto eternal life? Why is the conversion of the the soul compared to the grafting of a tree, if that be done without cutting? CONVERSION THE POWER OF GOD. A broken heart is the handy-work …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Perseverance
'Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' I Pet 1:1. The fifth and last fruit of sanctification, is perseverance in grace. The heavenly inheritance is kept for the saints, and they are kept to the inheritance. I Pet 1:1. The apostle asserts a saint's stability and permanence in grace. The saint's perseverance is much opposed by Papists and Arminians; but it is not the less true because it is opposed. A Christian's main comfort depends upon this doctrine of perseverance. Take …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity First Missionary Journey Scripture
STUDY III FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:26 INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS Before taking up the study of the first missionary journey, attention is called to certain points which should be considered in regard to all three of them (Acts 13:1-21:17). We have now arrived at what we might call the watershed of the Acts of the Apostles. Hitherto we have had various scenes, characters, personages to consider. Henceforth Paul, his labors, his disputes, his speeches, occupy …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Pastoral and Personal
FOURTH GROUP OF EPISTLES FIRST TIMOTHY. TITUS. SECOND TIMOTHY. THE PLACE OF THE EPISTLES +When Written.+--It is generally agreed among scholars that no place can be found for the writing of First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy in the period covered by Luke in his narrative in Acts. Agreeing with the tradition of the church, however, the opinion of many eminent scholars is that Paul was released from the first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30), that he again took up his missionary work, and …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Second Sunday Before Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Scriptural Christianity
"Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head." Ezek. 33:4. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 4:31. 1. The same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read, "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all" (the Apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren) "with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions That the Christian Miracles are not Recited, or Appealed To, by Early Christian Writers Themselves So Fully or Frequently as Might have Been Expected.
I shall consider this objection, first, as it applies to the letters of the apostles preserved in the New Testament; and secondly, as it applies to the remaining writings of other early Christians. The epistles of the apostles are either hortatory or argumentative. So far as they were occupied in delivering lessons of duty, rules of public order, admonitions against certain prevailing corruptions, against vice, or any particular species of it, or in fortifying and encouraging the constancy of the …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Links Acts 27:27 NIVActs 27:27 NLTActs 27:27 ESVActs 27:27 NASBActs 27:27 KJV
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